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July 20, 2013

...why exactly is Peter Cushing...or rather, why is the character he plays in the sleazy, tension-filled, slightly campy and unflinchingly visceral 1968 horror thriller "Corruption"...renowned surgeon Dr. John Rowan, so freakin' mad, huh?? I mean, we're not talking something as simple as 'just stubbed my big toe on the curb', 'dammit, someone took my last jello in the 'fridge' or 'yer' cheatin' at cards, pard'ner' mad, here. No sirree, Bob...we're talking something more like outright mad-as-a-hatter, complete mental breakdown, 'I'm gonna chase ya' down, and if I catch ya', I'm gonna slice ya' up with this scalpel', blood-lusting psycho killer mad. At least, for this viewer, that was the first impression, in first becoming privy of the 1968 film, "Corruption"...

...before eliciting a conclusive 'theory' to this query, given this opportunity to view "Corruption" for the first time, this viewer cannot help but kick things off by expressing an absolute love of movies trailers...especially those wrought from the guilded age of the drive-in and grindhouse cinema, from the mid '60's...say, to the mid '80's. As they are obviously intended to do, the movie trailers 'sell' the film, and the more viscerally descriptive and exploitatively in-your-face, the trailer is, the better to draw in the eager, albeit unsuspecting viewer...especially this viewer. In some cases 'exploitative' is almost synonymous to 'deceptive', and often, such deceptive exploitation can fool the hapless viewer into thinking that the film is something that it ultimately proves not to be. More than often enough, this strategy culminates into the trailer being something better than the movie itself; however, there's the occasion when a movie trailer, in being evasive, deceptive, and at the same time exploitative, hides the fact that the movie itself is a powderkeg, and the trailer...as shamelessly circus-barker impressive as it might be, or tries to be...is merely an anticipatory fuse...

...for years, this viewer...this devotee of genre movie trailers...had perchance happened upon the quite arcane and sleazy trailer for the 1968 film, "Corruption". Within the confines of that two-minute-plus viewing window, we have Peter Cushing...presumably the psychopathic badass protagonist of the film's proceedings...chasing frantic and screaming gals across the country side...wayward moments of character interaction, tormenting him to the brink of madness, or worse...occasionally having his maddened and enraged visage thrust into a facially contorting 'fish eye' lens, as he concentrates on a blood-spattering kill...all of this, while a wildly frenetic speaking narrator spouts repeatedly, saying that 'no woman will dare go home alone, after seeing 'Corruption'...run...Run...RUN!!", and the film's title being splashed continuously amidst these shocking proceedings. Now really, who couldn't possibly resist an invitation like that!! For this viewer, "Corruption" was an undiscovered 'must-see'...especially with a suggested performance from the great Peter Cushing, reportedly unlike anything he had done before; unfortunately, the film had yet to see an official domestic release on home video media...that is, until recently, when our fine folks over at Grindhouse Releasing gave this rarely seen sleaze gem, it's long-deserved just due...

...Sir John Rowan, a renowned surgeon, albeit somewhat stuffy and reclusive...at least, as far as his young and carefree fiancee, Lynn, is concerned, when it comes to social events...is coaxed to a hip and swinging party...tolerable, but a bit much for John. Once there, his ravishing bride-to-be makes proper introductions, but eventually succumbs to her own whims as center of attention, when she revels her alluring beauty...modeling provocatively to the suggestions of photographer Tony Booth. When things appear to be going too far, as far as John is concerned, he attempts to intervene the photo session, and in the tussle, a floodlamp is knocked over, falling onto the face of his betrothed...severely burning her. On the cusp of destroying herself, as the result of the ugliness of her injuries, which she feels she now cannot escape, Lynn is instead reassured by the obsessed and relentless efforts of John, who in engaging an unorthodox and unapproved method of laser surgery, coupled with a theoretical application of pituitary gland extracts, promises to restore her beauty. Thanks to a convenient and recently deceased donor, the pituitary extract is acquired, and as promised, the severe scars on Lynn's face are replaced by smooth, soft and revitalized skin. However, the restored beauty, as well as the scientific breakthrough prove to be short-lived, when Lynn's face rejects the facial repairs, with the scars returning in full force...

...insanely driven to restore his beloved's beauty, no matter what the cost, John pursues a much more sinister and murderous direction in his efforts; theorizing that the effects of his surgery would be much more lasting, providing that the pituitary extract was derived from a live specimen, John reluctantly pursues and gruesomely dispatches a number of women, in an effort to get what he needs for the operation, with each attempt at restoring Lynn face...although longer lasting...failing to attain the much more permanent state desired. Eventually, the marked deaths in the vicinity gives cause for one of John's colleagues...whom John had confided his theories with...to suspect John, since each of the girls killed, appears to be missing what John needs for his restoration procedure. Given this attention, John and Lynn make haste from the city, to a seclusive seaside villa...with Lynn, now obsessed with keeping her beauty, one way or another, forcibly coercing John in taking even further lives...even resorting to blackmail...in an effort to keep her happy. Nearly driven to the brink of madness...to a point of no return...how far will John go, and what could possibly happen next, further giving cause for his world comes crashing down, all around him???

...of course, for those closely attuned to the genre, we've been here, many a-time before; the alternately macabre and mesmerizing1959 French classic, "Eyes Without a Face" is probably the foremost example of the 'obsessed doctor, attempting to preserve his beloved's beauty, at the expense...and ensuing deaths, of others' subgenre. Notable mention cannot possibly exclude the hauntingly exotic 1970 chiller, "The Blood Rose", or Jesus Franco's highly graphic 1987 creepie, "Faceless", amongst others; however, frame for frame, none have taken this concept to the utmost height of sleaze, as director Robert Hartford-Davies' "Corruption". With the nail-biting tension of an anticipated runaway train crash, coupled with a creepy and monstrous perversity, a 'B' movie meets the Italian giallo' flavor, as well as an unflinching and, well...quite frankly, messy gruesomeness, worthy of inspiration for 'Maniac's Frank Zito, "Corruption" often repulses, and yet dares the viewer not to look away, at...to coin a familiar movie line phrase...the film's 'accursed ugliness'. A violent and bloodily invasive 'dance' with a prostitute (...with a messy little post-mortem 'cop-a-feel'...eh, just to tantalize)...a rendezvous with a pretty train passenger, culminating with her head in the bag, and her torso tucked neatly under the seats...a break for a sandwich, gives way to blood-curdling screams, when something is found in the freezer, wrapped in cellophane...and the finale, as wildly berserk as the aforementioned proceedings (...with the exception of the 'dream versus reality' cop-out moment) seems inspired by the Bond flick, "Goldfinger"...to some measure, surprisingly enough, perhaps destined itself to inspire even 1976's "Logan's Run"...

...for this viewer, "Corruption" was most assuredly a marked departure performance for Peter Cushing, as the obsessed surgeon, John. Before having viewed this film, the height of delectably diabolical dastardly, in this viewer's recollection, had to have been Peter's number of performances as the cold, stern and indomitable Dr. Frankenstein, in the reigning string of Britain's Hammer Films, from the late 50's, to the early '70's. The uniqueness of those classic, gothic-flavored films was that the although the creatures themselves changed, from film to film, Peter's interpretation of the 'good' doctor remained the same...cold, unfeeling, dedicated to the creation of life, no matter what the cost...in a lot of ways, a character more monstrous than the creatures he constructs. However, in "Corruption"...ah, now, here we have a villain of a totally different and much more intriguingly complex facet of 'monster'...though equally driven in his goals, the persona of John is also entrenched in textbook obsession...bordering, and at moments, clearly stepping into a skewed and twisted mania of psychosis...troubled emotional conflict and manipulable vulnerability...reluctantly doing what needs to be done, getting dirty and brutal (...at times, quite perversely), when the need arises, and yet, quickly picking himself up, brushing himself off, and non-chalantly composing himself, assuming a facade of having done bad, in order to do good...though, as the film's events reach their pinnacle, clearly the facade becomes more difficult to assume...

...and yet, one has to give irony it's due, in suggesting that in this heinous and diaolical course of events, in a lot of ways, the John Rowan character is not necessarily the foremost 'monster', herein. That dubious honor, without a doubt, belongs to his vanity driven, attention demanding, bride-to-be, Lynn Nolan, as deftly portrayed by actress Sue Lloyd (...of 1978's "The Stud", and the year-later follow-up, "The Bitch"). Given proper perspective, this deliciously wretched character often proves herein, even stronger and diabolically more monstrous than John, himself...with claws, sharper than the 'good' doctor's best scalpels...and intent, evil enough to make the doctor's actions and behavior almost seem quite sane...

...with no reservations whatsoever, this viewer really has to hand it to Grindhouse Releasing, once again, for affording us (...or in my case, 'introducing', as this was my first viewing venture, and had no other frame of reference) what appears to be a stunning piece of work, as far as restoration, for this Blu-Ray/DVD combo. The print is remarkably flawless, with the most striking of color (...definitely a plus, considering the gruesome aspects of the film) and beautiful detail. The singular mono soundtrack...crisp and sharp, with some unnerving aural detail, especially in some of the more disturbing scenes. As can be expected from Grindhouse Releasing, a cavalcade of special features is to be had, here...including two versions of the film. A labeled 'international' version of the film proves the more explicit and exploitative of the two...specifically, in featuring an alternately staged version of the film's visceral first murder...with a different actress, assuming the role of the prostitute, and with the scene containing much more gratuitous bloodshed and nudity...

...supplementing the overflowing extras package, herein, are included recent interviews with supporting actors Jan Waters, Bill Murray and Wendy Varnals, as well as an additional archival 1974 audio interview with Peter Cushing, himself. Writer Jonathan Rigby, who penned a most comprehensive study of the British horror film, entitled "English Gothic: A Century of Horror Cinema", as well as Peter Cushing biographer David Miller, provide what most might consider a most stimulating and informative audio commentary, for the film. Fettered generously about the extras menu...isolatable music and effects audio tracks, TV and radio advertisements, a still gallery and a complete shooting script. Capping things off...not only some trailers from director Robert Hartford-Davis' other notable films (...get a load of 1972's "Black Gunn", as well as the lesser-seen, 'corrupt cop' caper flick, 1974's "The Take"), but also a compilation of Grindhouse Releasing's entire repertoire of 'now available' and reportedly 'coming soon' releases...the partaking of which makes for quite an eclectically wild and crazy diversionary show, unto itself...

...Shocking and unnerving?? Unflinching and out of control?? Brutal, maniacal and diabolical?? Eh, perhaps, but "Corruption" definitely makes for an intriguing study in obsession gone mad...the unveiling facets of which, character-wise, culminate in the film's poignant title. And a totally unexpected, powerhouse performance from one of the horror genre's greatest. How can one possibly beat that?? This viewer's highest recommendation...with an accompanying applause to the fine folks, over at Grindhouse Releasing; this one was, without a doubt, well worth waiting for...